Letters to the editor: Wiggle-room nation

Letter to the Editor

Wiggle-room nation

I listened intently to the debate Monday night. Is smaller better? In a society where taxes are not equitable and where, unfortunately, since the dawn of time we have had people who feel entitled to more than their fair share of the pie due to religious beliefs or financial stature, only the government has the capability to level the playing field. Only when all people truly feel a sense of self-worth and equal opportunity can the government be downsized.

Again, unfortunately, we live in a society where people don't abide by the rules and where everyone is looking for the gray area and wiggle room. Maybe that's where the problem starts, as the majority of people in our country seem to do better when they follow carefully prescribed guidelines and don't have to make decisions for themselves and about things we share in common.

David Schwarz

Land O' Lakes

Poor performance

Brian Williams was the poorest-performing moderator of any of the debates. All questions were geared so that any criticism of President Obama would be avoided.

While WFLA is not responsible for NBC's actions, I will never watch NBC again.

Louise Mann

Tampa

Take notice, 'big boys'

I was very disappointed in the way "national-level" NBC analysts spent the whole post-debate commentary Monday delivering an extremely biased narrative, talking only about Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum weren't even mentioned. It almost seemed like Romney and Gingrich paid for the post-debate wrap-up.

The main purpose of the debate is to let people hear from the candidates and decide what to think. No one of any reasonable intelligence should care what NBC analysts think about the candidates.

I did appreciate that local Channel 8 analysts were quite fair in their post-debate analysis. They accurately reported facts and gave fair and equal treatment to all candidates. The "big boys" from NBC should take some lessons from you guys. You guys were better than anyone I have seen so far.

William Copeland

New Port Richey

Determining nominees

Eureka! I finally figured out how we choose presidents. The candidate with the most positive air time and interviews on Fox News will be the Republican nominee, and the candidate with the most positive air time and interviews on NBC will be the Democratic nominee.

Presidential politics now understood.

Cathy Starnes

Plant City

Everyone welcome at table

The online dictionary defines "bigot" (noun) as a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief or opinion. You can't call yourself a Christian and be a bigot. This is not the example set by our Lord, a perfect model of tolerance, inclusion, compassion, forgiveness and love. But our societal predilection for name-calling and labeling anyone with a differing opinion from ours has become a national pastime. And it is just intolerance and bigotry by another name.

Christianity may or may not be the predominant religion in our country, but that's not the issue. True tolerance and inclusion means everyone is welcome at the table and under the tent regardless of race, creed, belief, opinion or other affiliation. However, I have frequently observed that desire for inclusion, tolerance and acceptance is often demanded at the expense of others by exclusion and intolerance. This has been more than adequately demonstrated by the attacks, comment, criticism and mocking of Tim Tebow in the media for his faith and beliefs.

I wrote a complimentary letter on an article about Tim. It was edited by Trib staff, altering its original context and meaning, probably due to someone's personal bias. They even edited out the compliment to the author and publication. Regardless, I am not a bigot or victim, but a Christian. So take your amusement, indignation and intolerance and channel them into something more productive. I'd recommend tolerance.

Kim Droege

Sun City Center